THEME PARKS 22 JUNE 2007 A GUIDE TO AMUSEMENT PARKS AND FAMILY DAYS OUT IN BRITAIN AND EUROPE

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 2 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES

Coasting along in style at high speed If you are looking for a day out filled with adrenaline then there are some of the best white-knuckle rides on offer this summer around the United Kingdom and within easy reach in Europe. Tom Rowland intro- duces a guide to the biggest and fastest rides as well as the newest and most interesting theme parks.

Blackpool’s new star ride Infusion is the world’s first roller-coaster completely suspended over water

It must be tough being a real-life traction at in Surrey. The designers of Infusion claim plummets and soars into the sky roller-coaster tycoon, stuck in a A dizzying loop 205ft high that it is the world’s first suspended, the carriages start to spin. perpetual arms race where every accelerates from 0-80mph in less looping roller-coaster completely Air, in the far corner of the site season you are under pressure to than two seconds and is all over over water, giving riders an is even more spectacular. Both CONTENTS come up with something higher, in around 10. all-too-brief visit to a curved illustrate the high level of engi- faster and more scary than last This year they have tweaked the waterfall, five loops and rolls and neering expertise on offer from German parks give the rest a year’s offerings. nitrogen boosters to give even more an intense 4.5G force wrench. the UK amusement parks at the run for their money p. 3 As it can cost up to £10 million acceleration which presumably At in Staffordshire moment. for a new ride and getting them means it is all over even faster, they are still successfully squeezing For heavy-duty teenage bone Why there is money in wax p. 5 past planners and an increasingly although the customers will doubtless every last teaspoon of adrenaline jarring combined with intense Seed sculpture heralds new nervous inspectorate is time- be back for more. from Spinball Whizzer. The panic, then there is wealth of era or the Eden Project p. 6 consuming and expensive there is Thrill seekers after a brand new Whizzer might look comfortingly opportunity both at home an in a temptation to get a few year’s roller-coaster to test their stomachs familiar as roller-coasters go with European resorts. Great expectations for Dickens World p. 6 worth of star billing out of each hit. and nerves will have to travel to no obviously neck-jarring Life can still be sweet when you was 2006’s biggest at- Blackpool this summer. bounces or turns but while it are under a metre tall p. 7 A history that started with iceslides p. 7 Chertsey, Surrey Alton, Staffordshire www.thorpepark.com www.altontowers.com Thorpe Park Now with more first division Alton Towers The smart, sophisticated park terror on offer with its rides that set the standard others than most of its competitors. strive to catch. Top rides Top rides ● Stealth was 2006’s biggest attraction in every sense, but in ● Air: the most futuristic roller-coaster ride to date – and the one 2007 they are sending you up faster with super boosters. that gets you closest to the sensation of being Spiderman. ● is the world’s first 10-looping roller-coaster. With ● Spinball Whizzer: a demented pinball that cannons around spiral loops, a flipping double cobra with a will of its own at nearly 40mph. ● Inferno is a high-octane, legs-dangling, suspended ● Nemesis: four seconds of weightlessness and brain- coaster with 360-degree loops, speeds of nearly 50mph and scrambling 4G forces. G-forces up to 4.5. ● Oblivion, the world’s first vertical-drop roller-coaster. Riders ● is one of the highest water drops in Europe. are pulled up to a ledge, and then dropped into a dark hole ● . In a five-seater pod, you are put through 360- at 70 mph. degree rotations and gravitational forces ranging from 3G ● Queen of Speed to 5G, some 60ft feet above ground. Admission Admission Adults £32, children £22; family of four £89. One-day pass £32, children under 11 years £20. Book online to buy cheaper passes

www.blackpool Blackpool pleasurebeach.co.uk Near Tamworth, Staffs Pleasure Beach There are five glorious Drayton Manor www.draytonmanor.co.uk wooden roller-coasters left here, more than any- THEME PARKS Theme Park Drayton has more than 100 A TITLE FROM MEDIAPLANET rides and attractions, where else in Europe but it is the newer including a large lake. The high-tech offerings that attract the crowds these days. Project Manager: Malindi Johnson, 020 7563 5884 attraction is spread over Production Editor: Ulrika Fallenius Top rides 280 acres. Top rides Editor: Tom Rowland ● ● The Bounty is new for 2007. A that looks a little Infusion is the world’s first suspended, looping roller-coaster Design: Sophie Westerberg completely over water, giving riders a whole new experience. like the pre-fire Cutty Sark and swings you high above a Prepress: Jez MacBean ● The Pepsi Max Big One is the tallest and fastest steel roller- water feature. Print: News International ● Shockwave, Europe’s only stand-up roller-coaster: two coaster in Europe corkscrews, one loop and one heart-line spiral. ● Ice Blast goes up at 80mph and 4.5G, and comes down at ● Stormforce 10 is the fastest, wettest ride and the only 30mph and -1G. Mediaplanet is the leading European publisher in wet-knuckle with a reverse drop. ● is classic woodie built in 1921 and rebuilt in 1934. providing high quality and in-depth analysis on topical ● Maelstrom, Europe’s first gyro swing ride. This is where the term “big dipper” originated. industry and market issues, in print, online and ● Pandemonium started in 2007. Two 32-seater platforms are Admission broadcast. mounted on the end of counter-weighted arms that revolve Buy books of tickets or purchase a wristband for £20 or £15 in opposite directions. online, weekdays until 29 June. Admission For more information about supplements in the daily 12 years and over, £20.95 (weekdays); children 4-11 years, press, please contact Freddie Ossberg, 020 7563 8878 £16.96. [email protected] www.mediaplanet.com AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 3

First German parks give all of the roller-coaster The first roller-coasters were constructed in Russia during the 17th Century and involved covering rest a run for their money wood frames in ice and then pushing sleds with iron runners along them. The riders could use the momentum If you are looking for energetic fun combined with high centrifugal forces and scary built up from the down parts to get descentscombined with some of the best rides for younger children and restaurants of up increasingly less steep inclines. The American fairground impre- superior quality then head for the land of Richard Wagner and Immanuel Kant. sario L A Thompson is considered to be the father of the modern roller- The German theme parks are among the best on the continent way to break a summer holiday drive to the sun or for those coaster. He adapted the concept for and for those who like high quality rides it is the must visit on route to a ski resort.There are also some good deals his wooden Switchback Railway at location outside the UK, attracting significant numbers of available for air travellers heading for this year in 1884. British visitors each year, partly because they are exception- and the resorts have started to offer packages with chil- Disneyland’s Matterhorn, which ally good value. Definitely worth a detour and an excellent dren going free or at a discount. opened in 1959, was the first tubu- lar-steel coaster, and set the pattern for modern fast rides.

Down the hatch without a scratch Every summer classes are offered in Coney Island's Sideshow and Burlesque School. Their ad reads: "Have you ever dreamed of running away with the circus? Did anyone ever call you a freak? Well, now's your chance to become one!" Sword swallowing, snake charming and fire spitting are still on display. Insectavora walks barefoot on a sword edge; half her face is covered with tattoos and she has dozens of piercings. The Inflatable Man shocks the crowd by juggling a bowling ball hung from his ear lobes. Snake Charmer kisses a giant albino while Heather Holl- iday, dressed in a vintage 50s dress and stiletto heels, stuffs swords Near to the German French boarder in South between her pierced lips. Europapark Germany between Karlsruhe and Basel. www.europa-park-breaks.co.uk Best rides archaeological excavation in the On the road to The park has themed areas ● Silver Star Greek themed area of Europapark. for most European countries includ- Europe’s highest roller-coaster ● Atlantica Supersplash Borneo ing Germany, England, Italy, France, offers three minutes of thrills and Forward and backward ride before Greece, Scandinavia, Spain and is not for the faint-hearted with a a race down into the water. Portugal. The English part has a height of 73 metres, a top speed ● run. Sensational fun: replica of Shakespeare’s Globe of over 80 mph and centrifugal speed down a metal ice-run at 35 Theatre and a town square with forces of up to 4G. mph. statue of Queen Victoria. ● Admission A family roller-coaster around an Adults Euros 30, children Euros 24.60.

Forty-eight orang-utans that were freed from an in Thailand have been returned home A large park south of Cologne that was established 40 years ago to Indonesia to start a new life on but has kept up to date with state-of-the-art rides and attractions. their native island of Borneo. www.phantasialand.com The animals were forced to perform in daily boxing matches A new Deep in Africa Best rides ● Race for Atlantis. A new generation slide in the world. Circular boats before being confiscated. They themed area comes complete with full ● Talocan. Phantasialand’s new in door spinning coaster that take you down a torrent, passing were flown to the capital, Jakarta, on roller-coaster and there are supe- attraction in 2007 is a suspended plunges to the ocean floor to a cascades, cataracts and whirlpools. on board an Indonesian military rior wild water rapids, a mystery top which spins leaving the heads land of monsters carrying up to Admission transport plane. castle and a China Town crammed and feet of riders dangling free 256 passengers on a four minute Adults Euros 29.50, children Euros 26 Their plight has highlighted with steaming food stalls and three over gaping chasms of and Aztec ride with Imax cinema images. Asia's thriving black-market in good Chinese restaurants. temple ruins. ● Mystery Castle. A bungee drop animals and plants, a trade which Visit Silver City for Wild West ac- ● Loop-the-loops, corkscrews, from a height of 65 metres. officials estimate generates some tion, barbecues and live band play- hairpin bends and stomach- ● Colorado Adventure. What is £5 billion in revenue each year - ing country music while travelling churning drops follow in quick claimed to be the world’s fastest third only behind illicit arms and entertainers and comedians bring succession, while the tunnels runaway reaching speeds the drug trade. all the fun of the fair to the streets obscure your peripheral vision over 30 mph. Rare or endangered animals, of Old Berlin. and alter your perception of speed. ● . The highest rafting from parrots to black bears and gibbons often end up in safari parks or circuses. Phantasialand recently awarded ”Best German Theme Park 2006/2007*” !

Phantasialand is situated in Brühl near Cologne in the heart of the Rhineland. Enjoy over 100 fascinating shows and attractions for all the family, for example the brand new ride Talocan, a suspended top-spin and the spectacular Black Mamba, an inverted roller-coaster which has just been awarded “Best New Attraction”. After an exciting day you can sleep like a Chinese Emperor in Phantasialand´s 4 star family hotel LING BAO. Phantasialand is easy to get to from the UK by car, train or plane. Direct flights to nearby Cologne-Bonn airport are offered by many budget airlines.

Deep in Africa - Black Mamba

River Quest Hotel LING BAO TALOCAN

Opening hours: 01.04.2007 – 04.11.2007, daily from 9 am to 6 pm · Phantasialand Schmidt-Löffelhardt GmbH & Co. KG · Berggeiststr. 31–41 · 50321 Brühl/Germany · Infotel.: +49 (0) 22 32–36 206

* www.parkscout.de www.phantasialand.com AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 5 Why there is money in wax vice president of communication services at the Alexandria, Va.-based International Association of Amuse- ment Parks and Attractions, that number has the potential to grow much larger. “In 2005 alone, more than 100 new attractions have opened or been announced to open worldwide. The amusement industry is strong and

More than 328 m ” people visited amusement parks ” growing at a steady rate,” she explains. The consolidation of the leisure industry across Europe has been driven by private equity firms, trading companies like playing cards in a high stakes game. They are looking to If the enormous queues that snake along the Marylebone Road outside Madame visited amusement parks. They ate build bigger businesses that can be burgers, sipped sodas, rode roller sold on or floated at a profit. Tussauds every school holidays were not evidence enough of the enduring fascination coasters, bought T-shirts and, according The American private equity firm of that Victorian invention the wax figure, then a very public union earlier this year to accounting firm. Blackstone, which bought Merlin two PriceWaterhouseCoopers, spent years ago from another private equity was. The Tussauds Group was bought for more than £1 billion by UK company Merlin approximately $20 billion. Even more owner, will retain control of the thrilling, for the industry at least: that group. It expects to float the business Entertainments, the owner of Legoland, Sealife, the Dungeons, and in Italy. on the stock exchange in three to four years time. Tussauds goes back to 1770, when The merger created a group with more Disney’s territory. It already has a There are also entirely new concepts Philippe Curtis opened a waxwork than 50 sites in 12 countries across Legoland in California and is looking being developed like the first Legoland The amusement museum in Paris. After he died, Marie three continents attracting 30 million for a second US site; while London Discovery Centre opened in Berlin last Tussaud, His housekeeper’s daughter, visitors a year; and propelled it into Madame Tussauds has attractions in month and planned to open in several industry” is strong inherited the collection and brought being the closest competitor to that New York, Las Vegas, Shanghai, European cities over the next 2-3 and growing at a it to Britain in 1802. The museum has great old showman, Walt Disney. Amsterdam and Hong , with years. Merlin also intends to build been in its current building in London Tussauds also owned the London Eye, new sites planned for Washington DC more hotels that are associated with steady rate since 1884. as well as the UK theme parks Alton and Hollywood. its sites, in addition to those already Lego opened its first park in 1968 in Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington In addition the company sees a big operating in Gardaland, Alton Towers Denmark and it’s second in Windsor World of Adventures and future in several of its other brands and Chessington World of Adventures; ” in 1996. The Danish toymaker sold its in Germany. Sealife (23 locations attract 4 million an idea pioneered by Disney. theme park business to Blackstone in Merlin who is already No1 in visitors) and the London Dungeon The global theme park industry takes number is expected to grow 25 per 2005 and it was incorporated into Europe, said it aims to open five new which has fellow locations in Edin- its fun seriously. Last year around the cent to $24.7 billion by 2008. Merlin, which is run from offices in attractions a year, is moving in on burgh, York, Hamburg and Amsterdam. world more than 328 million people And, according to Beth Robertson, Poole, Dorset.

Greece and stop at Taverna Mykonos to sample some of the local delicacies including Break away to one of the Greek salad and Moussaka. Europa-Park is a family park with fun for all and the combination of rides, shows, great hotels and friendly staff world’s leading theme parks makes a holiday to remember. The Europa-Park package includes Special summer launch offer – kids under 12 go free to Europa-Park flights, transfers, and free entry to the park for the duration of the break and accom- modation at one of the eight hotels on From July 2007 families will be able to offer. Prices start at £195 per adult based - reach Europa Park, the top-rated European on four sharing a room. theme park, in less than two hours on flights from London Luton and Manchester For further information simply visit airports. www.europa--park--breaks.co.uk The new packages will create a quick and - hassle-free way to travel to Europa Park, Special summer launch offer ends August located in the sunniest region of Germany. 16th so book now to avoid dissapointment The Park is created around 12 European themed villages, which play host to over have to miss out; there is a specially the-art animation and computer technology. 100 attractions and shows. designed coaster “Pegasus” for children Those looking for a quiet break from the Europa-Park is Germany’s biggest from four years of age. Youngsters can action can visit one of the oldest half- theme park and home to the “Silver Star”, also make a big splash “Fjord-Rafting” timbered houses of the Black Forest region Europe’s tallest with a height through Scandinavia. in the German themed area. of 73 metres. The interactive theme ride “Atlantis Visitors can take a relaxing stroll Younger visitors to the park will not Adventure” is new for 2007 with state-of- through a typical Mediterranean village in 6 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES

Why we like Seed sculpture heralds new era the ride for the Eden Project to grow into The domed plant houses at the environmental centre near St Austell in Cornwall been host to 7 million visitors and world-renowned events such as Live have a new heavyweight resident this season and concessions for cyclists. 8 Africa Calling and the Eden Ses- sions (outdoor summer gigs featuring Changes in acceleration and velocity Seed, the 70-tonne solid Cornish granite approach to public engagement. This acts as a diverse as Moby, Keane, provide the thrills for roller-coaster sculpture by artist Peter Randall-Page is is a fantastic work of art that will Basement Jaxx and Brian Wilson). riders. the latest addition to the central stand forever as a symbol of our Eden’s Humid Tropics Biome is the Speed alone is not enough. The chamber of the Core building at the generation’s recognition that we are largest conservatory in the world – human body is not well adapted to Eden Project. It is one of the biggest part of nature, not apart from it, and 240 metres long, 110 metres wide and detect velocity, only sizeable artworks ever made from a single that to survive we must learn to work 50 metres high. Trees race up to the changes in it, which is why accel- piece of stone, the equivalent of 10 with the grain of nature.” light, some growing several metres a erating is fun but long haul airline African bull elephants and heavier year. Climbers hitch a ride and flights are boring despite the speed. than the largest rock at Stonehenge. orchids and ferns live high in the living It is thought that a chemical The silver-grey stone was lowered It is one of the skyscrapers. called monamineoxidase is released by giant crane through the circular The Warm Temperate Biome models by the brain when subjected to roof of the Eden Project’s education biggest” artworks ever the landscapes of the Mediterranean, roller-coaster thrills, giving a feeling building to sit within the bell-shaped made from a single South Africa and California, the of relaxation and exhilaration. chamber built to receive it. intensively cultivated areas where Randall-Page says that he wanted to piece of stone irrigation and fertilizers have created make a sculpture whose mass would a kitchen garden for the supermarkets Safer than almost totally fill an architectural of the world. space. This month he managed it, the The sculpture was celebrated” with a The Outside Biome represent the fishing painstaking and intricate process of concert featuring Peter Gabriel on entire temperate world, including fashioning it into an ovoid and carving June 20 and officially opened on June parts of Asia, America and the upper Angling is more dangerous than 1,800 nodules into its surface has 21, after which visitors to Eden now slopes of tropical mountains as well roller-coasters, according to figures taken four years. will be able to experience the stone as Europe, including the local envi- published by the Health and Safety Heralding the arrival of the sculpture, within its chamber. ronment of Cornwall. Executive. The sense of danger Eden’s founder and chief executive Eden’s Visitor Centre opened to the associated with the latter is largely Artist Peter Randall-Page with his new installation Tim Smit said: “Seed is the perfect public in May 2000 and the full site in For more information, visit the result of successful public rela- Seed in its new resting place embodiment of Eden’s creative March 2001. Since then they have www.edenproject.com tions hype by theme park operators.

favourite among the novels and that World is based on a credible and the heavier and darker books do not factual account of Charles Dickens’ really appeal. works and the world in which he lived The new park reflects this and it tries and has been monitored at each step to create a pleasant day out for people by the keepers of his literary heritage, who would not normally persist all the The Dickens Fellowship. way through any of the novels. And if a film extra dressed up as The idea for this park was born in Peggoty is no substitute for Peggoty the 1970s but it has taken until now then 45 actors in period costume to get the project underway. thronging recreated Victorian streets, The Great Expectations ride is triggering memories of Mr Micawber, inspired by the chase of the fugitive of Tiny Tim and of Oliver Twist offer prisoner Magwitch across the Kent a glimpse of a great British writer marshes. The 200 yards long roller- whose eye for detail and ability to bring coaster, with much plunging, swoop- a character to life was his greatest ing, splashing, and hurtling through strength can be no bad thing. darkened sewers, certainly beats revising for GCSEs. The same goes for the Haunted House, a walk-through attraction where you may well feel like Pip from Great Expectations with a bad case of over eating at the festive table of The DICKENS WORLD IN Christmas Carol, with ghosts swooping CHATHAM down on you from every angle. The dark boat ride transports visitors ● Admission: adults £12.50, Great expectations now from the depths of London’s sewers children £7.50 through atmospheric streets, court- www.dickensworld.co.uk yards, markets and shops, to a flight across the roof tops of London. The Charles Dickens for new Dickens World The courtyard areas allow visitors to Museum in London wander around the attraction, soaking You might not quite have imagined Miss Havisham as a than to the author of Great Expectations up the atmosphere and exploring the ● Admission: adults £5, children £3 and The Pickwick Papers, let alone streets, alleys, courtyards, dockside, www.dickensmuseum.com theme park character on stilts and your idea of a Dick- Bleak House or The Tale of Two Cities, shops and a themed restaurant. ensian school might not include desks with LCD displays but the great Victorian author would Peggoty’s boat house has been recre- Charles Dickens’s have approved of the concept of ated as a moving platform experience, Birthplace in Portsmouth and multiple choice answers, but Britain’s newest theme allowing the young to enjoy them- The School Room doesn’t exactly have park aims to bring the life of Charles Dickens to a new selves while bringing some of his Wackford Squeers, the ghastly sadistic ● Admission: adults £3.50, characters to life. son of schoolmaster Squeers, beating children £2.50 generation. At least that is the argument the pupils but there are multiple choice www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk advanced by Kevin Christie, the man- answers on the touch screens to be aging director of the new . tackled. The Old Curiosity Shoppe The Dickens Discovery It was the best of times, it was the month (May). Dickens World is set in “I still think Dickens would have completes the experience. worst of times, it was the age of a new industrial shed on the water- loved the place. He was not just a The whole thing probably could do Room in Rochester wisdom…it was the age of the theme front at Chatham, the town where the populist, but the ultimate showman. with a little more of the sense of dread ● Admission: free park. writer lived as a child. His father was His novels were published in serials, that pulls like an undercurrent through www.medway.gov.uk With due apologies to A Tale of a clerk in the Navy pay office. with cliff-hanger endings, like TV even the lightest of the Dickens works. Two Cities the latest arrival in the The £62 million development might soaps.” It is all a bit bright and antiseptic. parks parade opened for business last seem to owe rather more to Disney He says that Pickwick Papers is his But the promoters claim Dickens AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET ABOUT THEME PARKS, DISTRIBUTED IN THE TIMES 7 Life can still be sweet when you are construction machinery including dumper trucks, mini diggers and giant diggers (all under supervision). There under a metre tall are great opportunities to take photos, or learn about the workings of the The parents and carers of younger children need to offer them machines. “A hole lot of fun”, as the publicity material says. something gentler and less challenging and there is no shortage of Started in Kent and now with choice. Spectacular roller-coasters are all very well for the teens branches in Devon, Durham and Yorkshire. and those perpetually young at heart but most fast rides have age Admission and height restrictions and are not suitable for young children. Entry tickets to Diggerland from £11.25 www.diggerland.com the Vikings, set sail through to the top of the tower where an alien for youngsters between 3 to 5 years uncharted waters as you surge down- spaceship is hovering. Let go of the of age only. stream in a fantasy Viking world created cable to descend gently and safely ● Extreme team challenge Legoland by millions of Lego bricks. After a back to earth. Must be a minimum of Teams of two people jumping on Gullivers good soaking and back on dry land, 0.9 metres to ride. board an inflatable dinghy and racing venture into the Nordic-themed hedge ● Whirlybirds down a waterslide at up to 35mph. theme parks maze and try to unravel the mystery Climb on and let the spinning You will get wet. Must be a minimum of Loki’s Labyrinth. propeller take you up and down and of 0.9 metres to ride and under 1.3 A well-established park near Windsor ● Spinning spider up again before you know it. Must be metres height must be accompanied Three family entertainment resorts in features millions of Lego bricks Here guests can sit back and enjoy the a minimum of 0.9 metres to ride. by an adult. the UK with rides, shows and attrac- sculpted into designs and models you ride or make the “log” spin even faster ● Driving school Admission tions plus some roller-coasters for would be crazy to attempt at home. and get really dizzy. Make sure you After watching a road safety video, Adults £33, children £24 older riders. Lots of junior attractions But fun to look at in between rides also watch out for the giant Lego spider children aged 6 to 13 drive electric cars www.legoland.co.uk plus some for older members of the designed for younger children. hovering above. Must be a minimum around a realistic course encountering family. The Python, The Free Fall, There are height and age restrictions of 0.9 metres to ride. traffic lights, roundabouts and other Adventure Land Station, Tree Tops on some of the rides and activities but ● Fire Academy drivers. At the end, they all earn their Swing, The Buccaneer, Flying Carpet, they are less stringent than in the Fitness, speed and teamwork will all be very own Legoland driving licence. Maze Jungle River Ride, Jungle Maze. more grownup parks. Generally those tested as participants are challenged ● L-Drivers Diggerland The Gulliver’s theme parks can be over 0.9 metres high will have few with powering a LEGO fire engine and A single pedal operates smaller cars found in Milton Keynes, Matlock and problems. Best rides putting out a ‘burning’ building. Must and the oval course is a lot simpler. Warrington. be a minimum of 0.9 metres. To celebrate their achievement, all ● Viking River Splash ride opens in Admission ● Space Tower future drivers are awarded the Children (and adults if they wish) can Adults and children £11.30 summer 2007. Inside the new Land of Intrepid explorers pull themselves up Legoland driving licence. L-Drivers is ride in and drive different types of www.gulliversfun.co.uk

A history that started with iceslides The idea of pushing a sled down an undulating wooden track covered in ice gave rise to the modern roller-coaster but things have progressed a long way since then.

The first roller-coasters were con- Hine, the chairman of the Roller structed in Russia during the 17th Coaster Club of Great Britain. century and involved covering wood ”Any higher or any faster and the frames in ice and then pushing sleds THE BIGGEST COLLECTION ● Pepsi Max Big One – An hyper- rides would cease to be fun”, he said. with iron runners along them. The has the biggest collec- coaster with a highest point 235 feet above sea “But there are some very interesting riders could use the momentum built tion of roller-coasters in Britain including the highest level. (215 feet from floor) innovations coming.” up from the down parts to get up concentration of historic wood roller-coasers in the ● Roller Coaster – A traditional wooden roller- increasingly less steep inclines. world. They are: coaster, notable for operating with minimal re- Hogwarts theme park The American fairground impresario ● Avalanche – A bobsled roller coaster straints Looking forward, Harry Potter is to L A Thompson is considered to be the ● Big Dipper – A traditional wooden roller-coaster ● Space Invader 2 – A dark indoor roller coaster have his own theme park. The $1 father of the modern roller-coaster. He ● Grand National – A wooden racing roller-coaster with a “space” theme billion park, due to open in Orlando adapted the concept for his wooden ● Infusion – A Suspended Looping Coaster ● Steeplechase – A three-tracked racing steel roller- in late 2009, is intended to keep the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in and the first ride of its kind in the world to be coaster, the last of its kind in existence. wizard world of Hogwarts alive for 1884. completely over water ● – The last wooden Wild Mouse roller the foreseeable future – and to Disneyland’s Matterhorn, which ● Irn Bru Revolution – An Arrow Dynamics shuttle coaster in the world squeeze the last drops of cash from opened in 1959, was the first tubular- roller-coaster with an inversion. ● Zipper Dipper – A children’s wooden coaster the Harry Potter brand. steel coaster, and set the pattern for ● Morgan’s Circus Clown Coaster – Kiddy Coaster comprised of bunny hills and a tunnel. Found in The attractions include a giant modern fast track rides. found in “Beaver Creek” “Beaver Creek” recreation of Rowling’s fictional When Disneyland first opened the Hogwarts Castle, a permanently Matterhorn was just a patch of orange snow-covered Hogsmeade village, the trees. Forbidden Forest and a Hogwarts The replica is a painstaking copy of Express that will steam away from the mountain in the Alps. The 1/100 opened, Walt took it for a spin. Since effect as the hay. Arrow, who de- mountain, they pitched the idea of Platform 9 and 3/4. scale 147-foot tall Matterhorn at the ride was not yet completed work- signed the ride, wanted to loose speed landing the bobsleigh carriages into The village, with steep-roofed slate- Disneyland is set in geographical ers piled some hay at the end to stop at the end, and they thought water water. and-stone buildings will boast shops alignment with the real Matterhorn in the ride. Walt liked the feeling of way would be the best solution. When ”The world has seen the end of selling cauldrons and broomsticks, Switzerland. he collided with the hay so much he Walt informed them there would be competition to build the highest and wands, magic potions and Harry Before the Matterhorn coaster wanted the ride end to have he same an Alpine like lake at the base of the fastest roller-coasters”, says Andrew Potter-themed meals. GORILLA KINGDOM NEW UP -CLOSE EXPERIENCE

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